Kansas elects first Democratic senator since 1932; Hamilton cites voter frustration

Rev. Adam Hamilton, who leads the largest United Methodist church in the country, defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas on Tuesday night. ¹ Kansas has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932, which is 94 years. ¹

In an interview with PBS NewsHour anchor Amna Nawaz, Hamilton said the result reflected anger at the federal government. ¹

On tapePBS NewsHour · Nov 6

▶6:02

I think there was a lot of frustration with what's happening in Washington.

Hamilton said people across Kansas who had "voted Republican all their lives" looked at Washington and decided "this is not OK." ¹ He described policies he said were hurting people in his state. ¹

A pastor's pitch

Hamilton said he has spent 38 years as a pastor asking what the world should look like. ¹ He said he traveled the state listening to people's frustrations and disappointments. ¹ In his words, "My superpowers are that I listen carefully, I care deeply, and I fight for people." ¹

From Channel GOPAdam Hamilton flips Kansas Senate seat139 plays · captioned, with the source named

Corruption, investigations and Stephen Miller

Nawaz said about 90 percent of voters called government corruption a crucial factor. She noted that Rep. Robert Garcia, the likely new chairman of the House Oversight Committee, plans to start by investigating the Trump family. ¹ Hamilton said he wants to stop corruption and build guardrails against it. ¹

I don't want to spend the next two years in trials.

Hamilton said he is willing to hold people accountable, but that his priority is Social Security, health care, immigration and the national debt. ¹

On tapeAssociated Press · Nov 4

▶1:02

Asked about President Trump's choice of Stephen Miller as chief of staff, Hamilton said Miller "seems to be the author" of many policies he and others dislike, including on immigration, the Iran war and tariffs. ¹ He called the pick "difficult and challenging" for many Democrats. ¹

Hamilton also said he will not support Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York for majority leader, though he said he meant no disrespect. ¹ He said he wants "fresh ideas" and leaders who bring Republicans and Democrats together. ¹

What happens next

CBS News reports Democrats won control of the Senate. ² Two races are still open. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by about 2,500 votes as of Friday evening. ² Counties have until Nov. 13 to certify results. ²

That matters because Kansas shows how far the Democratic gains reached. A seat that stayed Republican for nearly a century is now headed to a pastor who won over voters in a deep-red state. ¹

The Record

1. Nov 3, 2026Hamilton defeats Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas, the first Democratic Senate win there since 1932 ¹
2. Nov 6, 2026Hamilton tells PBS NewsHour he will not support Schumer as majority leader ¹
3. Nov 13, 2026Mississippi counties' deadline to certify results in the Colom-Hyde-Smith Senate race ²

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<h2>Kansas elects first Democratic senator since 1932; Hamilton cites voter frustration</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/kansas-elects-first-democratic-senator-since-1932-hamilton-cites-voter-frustration">The GOP Files</a> on Friday, November 6, 2026.</em></p> <p>Rev. Adam Hamilton, who leads the largest United Methodist church in the country, defeated Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas on Tuesday night. Kansas has not sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932, which is 94 years.</p> <p>In an interview with PBS NewsHour anchor Amna Nawaz, Hamilton said the result reflected anger at the federal government.</p> <blockquote><p>I think there was a lot of frustration with what&#39;s happening in Washington.</p><p>&mdash; Adam Hamilton, Senator-elect, Democrat-Kansas</p></blockquote> <p>Hamilton said people across Kansas who had &quot;voted Republican all their lives&quot; looked at Washington and decided &quot;this is not OK.&quot; He described policies he said were hurting people in his state.</p> <h2>A pastor&#39;s pitch</h2> <p>Hamilton said he has spent 38 years as a pastor asking what the world should look like. He said he traveled the state listening to people&#39;s frustrations and disappointments. In his words, &quot;My superpowers are that I listen carefully, I care deeply, and I fight for people.&quot;</p> <h2>Corruption, investigations and Stephen Miller</h2> <p>Nawaz said about 90 percent of voters called government corruption a crucial factor. She noted that Rep. Robert Garcia, the likely new chairman of the House Oversight Committee, plans to start by investigating the Trump family. Hamilton said he wants to stop corruption and build guardrails against it.</p> <blockquote><p>I don&#39;t want to spend the next two years in trials.</p><p>&mdash; Adam Hamilton, Senator-elect, Democrat-Kansas</p></blockquote> <p>Hamilton said he is willing to hold people accountable, but that his priority is Social Security, health care, immigration and the national debt.</p> <p>Asked about President Trump&#39;s choice of Stephen Miller as chief of staff, Hamilton said Miller &quot;seems to be the author&quot; of many policies he and others dislike, including on immigration, the Iran war and tariffs. He called the pick &quot;difficult and challenging&quot; for many Democrats.</p> <p>Hamilton also said he will not support Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York for majority leader, though he said he meant no disrespect. He said he wants &quot;fresh ideas&quot; and leaders who bring Republicans and Democrats together.</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>CBS News reports Democrats won control of the Senate. Two races are still open. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by about 2,500 votes as of Friday evening. Counties have until Nov. 13 to certify results.</p> <p>That matters because Kansas shows how far the Democratic gains reached. A seat that stayed Republican for nearly a century is now headed to a pastor who won over voters in a deep-red state.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/kansas-elects-first-democratic-senator-since-1932-hamilton-cites-voter-frustration">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/kansas-elects-first-democratic-senator-since-1932-hamilton-cites-voter-frustration.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. PBS NewsHour, “Sen.-elect Hamilton reflects on why Kansas voters chose a Democrat for U.S. Senate” (2026-11-06). pbs.org/newshour/show/sen-elect-hamilton-reflects-on-why-kan
2. CBS News, “Democrats win Senate control — live updates” (2026-11-06). cbsnews.com/live-updates/senate-election-results-2026/

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